3D Models by E. C. Thompson & Trent Chamberlain

Project Introduction

This is a collection of artifacts that are at the Brevard Veterans’ Memorial Center, a museum located in Merritt Island. I (E. C. Thompson, a student in UCF’s Texts & Technologies PhD program) digitized these artifacts as part of my research into making museum collections more accessible. I also had assistance from an undergraduate student, Trent Chamberlain. I want to thank the BVMC for lending me space to work and trusting Trent and me with their artifacts.

This page has a mock-up of the type of work that would be done to make a sort of digital addendum to a physical exhibition.

Many museums have cases jam-packed full of artifacts and are comparatively light on interpretation – it is not inherently good or bad, it just sort of is. The plus side is that this allows a museum visitor to see more stuff. The downside is that it limits the space for the museum to tell visitors about that stuff. An glass case stuffed to the gills of interesting things but without any interpretation is just as challenging and frustrating for a visitor as a single object accompanied by 3,500 words on the wall of interpretation.

Digital extensions, like what is presented below, allow a museum to have a wider “sweet spot” for want of a better phrase. They can show more things in their cases, yet still provide more detailed interpretation for those visitors who wish to read and know a little bit more with access to further interpretation on a website (like this one) provided via a QR code or other similar easy-access (and small) link that can be placed near the object, like with a sticker or label in or on its case.

Now, here are some of the objects we worked with over this term.

Fedayeen-Saddam Helmet

Trent Chamberlain & E. C. Thompson (ed.)

The Fedayeen Saddam was a paramilitary organization loyal to Saddam Hussein’s government in Iraq. Established in 1995 by Saddam’s eldest son, Uday Hussein, the group was tasked with various roles, including suppressing dissent, enforcing internal security, and acting as a propaganda tool. At their peak, their numbers neared approximately 40,000 members who operated outside the traditional military or political structures. They were known for their distinctive black uniforms and reliance on unconventional tactics during conflicts, particularly in the lead-up to and during the 2003 United States invasion of Iraq. The organization gained a reputation for brutality and fanaticism, playing a significant, albeit often controversial, role in the final years of Saddam Hussein’s regime. In conflict with the US Army, their forces frequently carried out suicide bombings. Tactics against domestic opponents included vicious acts, including beheading and torture, which served as a deterrent against dissent.

The helmet itself was particularly interesting because of its striking resemblance to Darth Vader’s helmet, a design choice supposedly influenced by Uday Hussein’s personal admiration for Star Wars. This particular helmet was constructed from fiberglass with a nylon suspension webbing interior, providing an intriguing blend of military practicality and pop culture iconography.

Hanoi Hilton Brick

Trent Chamberlain & E. C. Thompson (ed.)

The bricks recovered from the Hoa Lo prison, also known as the “Hanoi Hilton,” in Hanoi, Vietnam, hold significant historical value. In 1993, an American Vietnam War veteran observed the prison’s demolition and was permitted to take bricks, which were otherwise considered construction rubble. These otherwise common red construction bricks are marked “Hanoi”. The spelling of “Hanoi” on the bricks is in French, lacking Vietnamese tone marks. The brick also is marked “F. C. & Cie,” referencing the French company that constructed the prison during French colonial rule.

Bricks like this one have been given to notable figures such as former United States Representative and the first post-conflict United States Ambassador to Vietnam Pete Petersen, Commander Everett Alvarez, a Naval pilot who spent eight years imprisoned at the site, Senator John McCain, as well as many other former American POWs and veterans. Once the walls that imprisoned thousands of Americans, these bricks now symbolize the courage, service, and sacrifice of POWs, the over fifty-eight thousand Americans who died, and the millions of American veterans of the Vietnam War.

Engraved Canteen

E. C. Thompson

This is a m1942 US Army issued aluminum canteen manufactured by AGM, Co – Aluminum Goods Manufacturing Company, which was based in Wisconsin. In peacetime, the company made house and cookwares before switching to military applications during the war. The company was eventually renamed Mirro Aluminum.

The canteen would have been carried in a canvas pouch that could have been attached to the soldier’s load out pack and uniform. This particular aluminum canteen was used by a Staff Sgt. Kopp, as evidenced by the name engraved on the bottom. Kopp, like many soldiers, marked his wartime travels by engraving locations onto the shell of the canteen.

His engravings show us that he was part of the 5307 Composite Unit, also known as Merrill’s Marauders in the Burma Campaign. Engravings show us he traveled to Trinidad, in the British West Indies in 1942, New Caledonia, an island in the South Pacific, India, Burma (now Myanmar) in 1943 and 1944, as well as Australia and other areas in the South-East Asian Theater of the war.

Personalized items like this served as a soldier’s record of their travels and the creation of them functioned as a harmless way for soldiers to pass time.

Trench Art

Trent Chamberlain & E. C. Thompson (ed.)

Trench art is a term used to describe any decorative item made by someone directly linked to a conflict, be they civilian, soldier, or prisoner of war. Pieces of trench art can range from doodles in a notebook to handicrafts made from found materials to truly impressive high-art. It can range from engraved or etched pieces of metal, painted and decorated helmets, to less lasting creations like carvings in the walls of the trenches or highly decorated leaves. The practice of creating trench art is as old as military conflict itself, but it was World War I that truly defined it, giving the pastime its name and, through technological change, its most classic material, the brass cartridge. Later, the more highly mechanized nature of World War II provided soldiers with greater access to the tools and materials needed to produce these items in greater variety and quantity. Service members transformed materials like spent artillery shells, bullets, and scrap metal into a wide array of artifacts. These objects, often sent home as mementos, became treasured keepsakes and a tangible connection to the experiences of those who served.

The Senior Curator at the National World War II Museum says that trench art “provides a window into the actions of our servicemen and women beyond combat,” and that it “commemorates their service and serves as a reminder of the comradeship formed in units.”  Each piece of trench art tells a story, offering a glimpse into the thoughts, feelings, and circumstances of its creator. It stands as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring need for creative expression, even in the midst of conflict.

Trench art, as a term, also refers to some more commercialized products made with surplus or found materials after the war that were intended to serve as keepsakes or souvenirs. In some cases, entrepreneurial and artistic locals took to creating such items to sell to American soldiers on their journey home.

Dr. Lyon’s Tooth Powder

Trent Chamberlain & E. C. Thompson (ed.)

Dr. Lyon’s Tooth Powder represents an important stage in the evolution of oral hygiene products, predating the widespread use of the softer, paste-like formulations we recognize today. This product was manufactured by the R.L. Watkins Company, a firm founded in Cleveland, Ohio, starting in 1866 by Dr. J.W. Lyon. While modern consumers are accustomed to toothpaste dispensed from tubes, Dr. Lyon’s product was a powder. The gradual shift from powder to paste began around 1892, when a dentist in Connecticut adopted the collapsible paint tube for dental use. This innovation paved the way for products like Colgate’s Ribbon Dental Cream, which was introduced just four years later, further solidifying the move towards toothpaste.

The early twentieth century saw an overlap of tooth powders and tooth pastes. The miserable conditions of the First World War highlighted the importance of dental hygiene, as poor conditions in the trenches and other challenging environmental factors exacerbated deficiencies in hygiene resulting in worse outcomes for soldiers. During the war, soldiers were issued with dental hygiene kits including tooth brushes and tooth pastes or powder, and brushing teeth was made mandatory. Tooth powder was easier to manufacture, cheaper, and in some cases more shelf- (or trench-) stable than toothpaste, and it was frequently found in soldiers’ hygiene kits.